QUIT YER FRETTIN'

Fret not thyself because of evildoers,
neither be thou envious against the
workers of iniquity.
Psalm 37:1

It's a word I used to hear many years ago. I can picture in my mind some “older” ladies who have said to me at one time or another, “Quit yer frettin'.” To be honest, I didn't know what fretting, but I knew from their voices that I was doing something at the moment I shouldn't do and connected it with my immediate attitude.

Just recently, I taught an evening Bible study on Psalm 37. For as long as I can remember teaching ladies in Sunday school or Bible studies, I've had more ladies than I can count say to me, “I just don't understand the Bible so I don't read it as much as I should.” One thing I have said to them is that they will never understand the Scriptures without the Holy Spirit interpreting it for them, which He is happy to do when invited. However, there are some chapters in Scripture it doesn't take a PhD to figure out and Psalm 37 is one of those chapters.

For instance, just in Psalm 37, that is by the way on the lengthy side, I see several short phrases that speak in very clear tones, such as:

*Trust in the Lord and do good (3)
*Delight thyself also in the Lord (4)
*Commit thy way unto the Lord (5)
*Rest in the Lord (7)
*Cease from anger (8)
*Depart from evil (27)
*Wait on the Lord (34)
*Mark the perfect man (37)

I'm no brain child, but upon even first glance, I see clearly the expectation Scripture requires of me. I say all of that to focus on the theme verse I have put at the top of the page. That verse got my attention because I see “fret not” again in verses 7 and 8. Perhaps there are other phrases repeated but this one caught my attention.

David even as king didn't have an easy life. Prior to being the official king, he was chased down by a jealous Saul who wanted only to kill David. Again, he was chased down by his own son, had battles to fight and major problems to see through. David like you and me was frustrated when he saw evil seeming to be victorious and nothing happening to the offenders.

I have some friends and I include myself who in recent days have been going through some frustration because of some events over which we have absolutely no control. We looked at this Psalm together and I spent a little more time on the subject of fretting. So what is fretting? Fretting is a constant state of worry or anxiety. These two things, however, have never been known to solve one single problem, but the fretting process can take its toll on the fretter.

Men do their share of fretting, but more often, we women are real culprits in this area. We are very chemical and we wear our feelings very close to the surface of our beings. We are also the ones who want to solve every problem or crisis. When we see things that are wrong and can't solve them, we fret. I think we often feel if we aren't fretting about an issue, it might look like we don't care, as if fretting shows our depth of care. Perhaps that's how Satan wants us to deal with things so we are almost paralyzed to the point of uselessness. It wouldn't be the first time we fell for his schemes.

The problem with fretting is that it continues until who-knows-when and during that time, fretting turns into anger. That anger intensifies over time and eventually, left on its own, can lead us into the depths of depression and leave us with some serious health issues. David, without any explanation, chose to stress this simple command..”.Fret not”...three times for a good reason. I believe he knew from good experience the damage fretting could cause.

Whether it's fretting or any negative mental exercise we choose, we know we have to stop doing it. However, we need not feel out of control and defeated. Scripture will never give us a command we cannot obey. What we have to do is rely on God's power to enable this victory. Whether our concern regards health issues, employment, financial problems or any of the big and little cares of this world, God will enable us to lay them at His feet. Consistent and often many sessions of prayer is the major cure for the problem....so...”quit yer frettin'.”

I'm sorry, Father, for taking so much on myself instead of trusting and leaning on You. You have all the answers as to anything that troubles me. Thank You for Your every provision for my safety and sanity. You are such a Great Father and I thank You. In Jesus' name...Amen